Bag holder



Oct. 27, 1959 E. E. GIIBBONS BAG HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1956 0 imm a.@ 5 1 INVENTOR. fbrl E Gibbons Y 06m 5 I fliiarmfys Oct. 27, 1959 Filed May 8, 1956 E. E. GIBBONS 2,910,257

BAG HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 a i i 35 I 6 i 1 l i l INVENTOR. far] E Gzbbofls 1 BY Oct. 27, 1959 E. E. GIBBONS 2,910,257

BAG HOLDER I Filed May 8, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. for! f. Gibbons Oct. 27, 1959' E. E. GIBBONS BAG HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 8, 1956 mmvroa far] 5. Gibbons r 2,910,257 1C6 Patented Oct- 27, 1

BAG HOLDER Earl E. Gibbons, Waukegan, lll.

Application May 8, 1956, Serial No. 583,511 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-101 is designed to be mounted, if desired, on a platform scale whereby the precise quantity of the material placed in a bag held by the holder will be indicated. Suitable bag closing means may be employed for closing the filled bags but such means as well as the filling and weighing means are not essential to the bag holder mechanism to which the present application is directed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag holder which has means for gripping firmly opposed top edge portions of'a bag for holding the same in open position to receive the material, which gripping means are operable simultaneously to be moved to an open position for receiving a bag or in releasing a filled bag and likewise simultaneously operable to move a closed or bag gripping position for holding a bag in open position about a chute which directs the material into the bag during a filling operation whether the operation is performed by a filling machine such as of thetype above mentioned, or by hand. U

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag holder provided with an expansible chute to accommodate it to the diameter of the bags to be filled and a bag gripping means associated with opposed chute sections which can be operated to and from gripping relation with. the respective chute sections by common control members.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a bag holder provided with a chute member and gripping means associated therewith for gripping upper edge portions of a bag to be filled when it is placed about the lower end of the chute, the gripping means being adapted to increase the gripping action on the bag with increase in weight of thematerial placed in the bag.

In the use of the present bag holder, the bags to be.

filled, whether of paper or of any of other more: flexible fabric of which commercial bags are made, are manually placed with the open upper ends about the lower edge of a chute while the gripping members are inretracted relation. The retraction of the .gripping members can be efiected manually against spring action. mouth of a bag has been placed in proper position about the chute, the gripping means are released simultaneously from the retracted or cocked position and move by spring action into the bag gripping position. Such release of the gripping means for movement into the operative relation preferably is effected by means of a conveniently located release lever which can be operated or triggered by the operators leg or knee since in many instances both hands may be required in positioning the bag in proper position about the chute.

When the Other features of advantage and objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings which are illustrative of the present invention.

In thedrawings: i'

Figure l is a plan' view of a bag holder of arconstruction which is illustrative of the present-invention, the holder being adjusted for holding bags of the smallest diameter capable -of being handled by the illustrated holder;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the holder shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the holder but having in position inserts which adapt the machine for use with bags of a greater diameter;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the holder shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a broken end view of the holder;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken sectional view, similar to Fig. 5, but showing'the bag gripping means in retracted relation;

Fig. Sis a broken sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 7; V e

Fig. 9 is a broken side elevational view showing the bag grippers in retracted position; v

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, broken sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 1111 of Fig. 9 illustrating a pair of stationary plates between which and apair of coacting gripping members a bag is held at one side of the chute; and

Fig. .12 is a sectional view taken on line 1212 of Fig. 9. I

In the drawing the bag gripping mechanism illustrated is adapted for support at a suitable elevation by four uprights or legs 10. The lower ends of the legs are screw threaded into floor flanges or like supports 11 which'may be attached to a base 12 shown in Fig. 3

' which may be a portion of a floor or the platform of a scale. If the base 12 is a platform of a scale, it will be understood that, after the machine has been secured in place on the platform, the scale-is balanced to show the accurate net' weight of the products placed within the bags in the use. of the present improvements as later described- Since the present invention relates only to a bag holder structure and not to the weighing of the bag contents or to means for interrupting the flow of material into a bag when the contents thereofare of a predetermined or selected weight, the element 12 may be considered merely as a supporting base for the bag holder, which as stated may be a floor section.

Thelegs 10 'support a suitable frame consisting essentially of a pair of horizontal tubular beams 13 which preferably are rectangularin cross section. The members 13 are provided with socket members 14 as shown in Fig. 1 which receive the legs 10 and are provided with set screws 15. for securing the frame at a suitable or convenient elevation but at such height that a bag suspended fromthe bag holder, as later explained, will be clear of the floor or support 12. A tie rod. 16 for rigidifying the frame is shown in several of the figures. v Secured to the beams 13 in spanning relation relative thereto is a chute indicated generally by the reference 17 but formed by two cooperating sections 18 and 19. The forward section 18 is attached to the adjacent ends" of the beams 13 by screws 20 shown inFig. 1 while the rear section 19 is attached by thumb screws 21 which pass through slots in the section 19 for engagement with any of a plurality offthreaded apertures in the beams 13. When the screws 21 are removed, the section 19 may be slid away from section 18 to accommodate therebetween filler plates or sections 22 shown in Figs. 3 to 5 foren- 3, 4, 5 and 7 the chute sections are shown spaced apart with filler plates or inserts 22 therebetween to enlarge the chuteperimeter to accommodate use therewith of bags of increased transverse dimensions. The chute sections 18 and 19 illustrated preferably are castings,

'as of aluminum for example, and are cooperatively shaped to provide a generally rectangular chute having upper vertical wall portions that are integral with down wardly convergent upper wall portions 23 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 which terminate in lower vertical flange or lip portions 24, the perimeter of which is rectangu lar in shape and such as to enable the mouth or open end of a bag B, as shown in Fig. 2, to be slid up over the portions 24 preparatory to being clamped in place by the then retracted clamps as hereinafter described. The clamping of the bag to the lip section 24 of the chute is effected by means which are conveniently accessible to the operator while momentarily supporting an empty bag in the proper position and the bag after being so clamped is wholly supported in pendant relation above the floor or platform 12 so that the materialas it gravitates into the bag will leave no voids therein and successive similar bags can be uniformly filled.

When the filler plates 22 have been placed in position, as shown in Fig. 3 for example, to accommodate the chute to bags of greater thanthe minimum transverse dimensions, the plates 22 are retained in position by the inter-fitting relationship of the vertical edges with the corresponding edges of the chute sections 18 and 19. Thus, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the plates 22 have in effect rabbeted edges. The plates 22 comprise an upper vertical section, an integral intermediate convergent section, and a lower vertical section that is below and integral with the intermediate convergent section. When the plates 22 are in the position as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the drawing the upper section is coplanar with the upper vertical wall portions of the chute sections 18 and 19, the intermediate section is coplanar with the convergent wall portions 23 of the chute sections 18 and 19, and the lower vertical section is coplanar with the vertical flange portions 24 of the chute sections 18 and 19. Secured to both edges of the plates 22 are flanges 25 which are parallel with the upper, intermediate and lower sections of plates 22 and overlie the edges of the upper vertical wall portions, the convergent wall portions 23 and the vertical flange portions 24 of the chute'sections 18 and 19. The plates 22 also have horizontal outwardly directed supporting flanges 26, as shown in Figs.

Thus in Figs. 1 and 2 4 and 10, which rest on the adjacent beams 13 and are integral with the plates 22. The lower ends of the lower vertical sections of the plates 22 have concave inwardly directed portions 27 whichact as deflectors for descending material flowing into the bag to direct all material away from the margin of timing opening and prevent its escape in the event the upper end of the particular bag in use should sag intermediate the portions thereof which are positively gripped by the bag holder.

Each filler plate 22 has on the exterior surface a pair of button like members 28 shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8 Which'provide flanges which extend beyond the adjacent edges 'of the chute sections 18 and 19 when the plates 7 are in position and function to prevent inwarddisplacemerit of the plates. Filler plates 22, in pairs, cooperate when in use to enlarge a chute 17 to enable thesarne to accommodate larger diameter bags. Thus pairs of plates of different sizes may be provided for a bag holder which will enable the chute to be enlarged for accommodating use of correspondingly larger bags.

To enable the adjustment of chute section 19 along the beams 13 away from the chute section 18 for inserting the filler plates 22, the thumb screws 21 are first removed and slack is provided in a clamp operation cable forming a portion of mechanism, later described, for effecting concurrent operation of the bag clamps associated with each of the chute sections 18 and 19.

The chute section 18 is provided with a pair of longitudinally' extending supports 29 which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, are integral with the section 18 and at the free ends carry downwardly extending journal members 30 which are attached to the supports 29 by screws 31. The openings in the journal members 30 through which the screws 31 extendinto threaded engagement with the supports 29 are elongated longitudinally to enable the journal members 30 to be adjusted longitudinally on the respective members 29 to dispose a transverse shaft 32 rotatably carried by the journal members 30 in desired parallelism with the adjacent vertical flange 24 of the chute section 18. Secured t0 the shaft 32 are. two clamp arms 33, shown in Fig. 7, carrying at the forward ends a horizontal pivot rod 34 to which is pivotally attached a rectangular clamp plate 35 having apertured ears 36 through which the rod 34 extends. The clamp plate 35 on its forward face preferably is provided with a pair of rubber or like resilient pads 37, removably secured thereto by clips 38, shown in Fig. 6, and adapted to be pressed into clamping contact with two serrated plates 39, shown in Figs. 7 and 11, which are secured to the vertical flange 24 of the chute" section 18. It is the action of the clamp plate 35 and the pads 37 thereon against the serrated plates 39 which grips between them the adjacent upper edge portion ofthe bag B. On the opposite side of the chute for cooperationwith chute section 19 there is a similar bag clamping means which likewise will clamp an opposed portion of the upper end of a bag to chute for supporting the bag firmly with the open end embracing the portions 24 of the chute, which clamping means will be later described.

For use in swinging the clamp plate 35 from the clamping position shown in Fig. 5 to the open position shown in Fig. 7, an end of the shaft 32 is provided with a hired handle 49. Secured outwardly of each journal-member 30 on the adjacent end portion of the rod 32 are upwardly extending arms 41 and 42 to each of which is attached an end of one of a pair of tensioned springs 43 while the forward ends are attached by studs 45 to the respective outer side wailof the chute section '18. The tension of the springs 43 will, as viewed in Fig. 7, tend to swing the shaft 32 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in said figure, whereby the arms 33 in swinging through an arc in the same direction will thrust the pads 37 on the clamp plates 35 against the serrated plates39 into bag clamping position as illustrated in Fig 5.

When the handle 40 is actuated to swing the clamp plate 35 to a retracted position against the action of the springs 43, the plate will be automatically latched in the retracted or non-clamping position shown in Fig; 7 by means which preferably can be released by a leg or knee of the operator. Such latching and latch release mechanism will now be briefly described.

As shown in Fig. 9, the latching means for holding the clamp plate 35 in a retracted or open position comprises a pawl 47 pivotally mounted on an extension .48 of one side beam 13. A ratchet wheel 49, fixedly secured to the shaft 32 as later explained, is engageable by the pawl 47 for holding the shaft in the clamp-open position shown in Fig. 7. A pawl-releasing trip lever 50 depends from, and is'pivotally mounted on, the shaft'32. The upper end of lever 50 has secured thereto a U-shaped metal bracket 51 provided with a pawl actuating release stud 52 that extends outwardly from the outer leg of the bracket 51 adjacent the pawl 47. See Figs. 9 and 12. When lever 50 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9, the stud 52 will contact pawl 47 rotating it out of engagement with ratchet wheel 49. A spring 53 is attached under tension at one end to the lever 50 above the level of-the shaft 32- about which the lever fulcrums while the other end'of the spring is attached toafstud 54 projecting from the beam extension 48. The spring thus tends to swing the trip lever 50 clockwise as viewed in Figs. 2and 9 to move the latch operating stud 52 out of engagement withthefpawl 47 to enable the latter to swing by gravity into a position of engagementwith a tooth of the ratchet49. A light, flat spring 55 is attached to the base of the U-shaped bracket 51' whichassures that, the pawl 47 will be returned to ratchet engaging position should it fail to do so by gravity.

' It will thus be seen that to move the clamp plate 35 to open or bag-receiving or releasing position, "the hand lever 40 is manually swung counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. "3 whichrotates the shaft 32 through a commensuratearcin the same direction against the action of springs 43, 43. The pawl 47 will engage a tooth of the ratchetwheel 49'to retain the shaft 32, the arms 33 and clamp plate 35 in the open position to which they were manually actuated, as suggested by Fig. 7. It'will be seen that upon swinging the release lever 50 in a counterclockwis e directionpas viewed Fig.3 and 9 for example, thestud 52f will swing-the pawl 47 out of latching engagement with the ratchet, and the springs'43,

43 will then move the shaft 32 clockwise and force the plate 1341', toward, and the pads .37 carried thereby into, firm clamping contact'with the serrated plates 39. Coacting with the opposed chute section 19, clamping means are provided adapted to act concurrently with the elamping means above described to clamp an opposed portionof the periphery of the open end of a bag to the chute section 19. The clamping means which coacts with thchute section 19 are similar to the described clamping meens which coact with portion 18 and will be briefly described; I f i A shaftj'56, similar to shaft 32, extends transversely of the machine and is journalled-in two depending brackets orjournals 57 secured by bolts 58 to two rearward integral extensions 59 of the chute section 19 as shown in Figs. 4, and 9. The shafts 56 has fixedly secured thereto outwardly of each of the journals 57, upwardly extending arms'60 to which one end of two springs 61 are attached while the opposite ends of the springs 61 are secured to studs extending from the chute section 19. The springs 61 are tensioned and upon release of the tenslion they rock the shaft 56 through an are such that a pair of arms 62 fixedly secured to the shaft 56 and carrying a clamp plate 63 which is piyotally mounted on a rod 64 that is rotatably mounted on the ends of arms 62, will press a rubber pad or pads 65 on the plate 63 into bag clampingrelation with a serrated plate or plates 66, shown ii -Fig, '9; sec11re 1,t0 the depending lower portion 24 of the chute section 19. I Thebag-clamping mechanism just above described including theclamp plate 63 which cooperates with the. chute section'19 is concurrently retractableagainst the action of the springs 61 upon operation of the hand lever 40in retracting the above described bag mechanism including the plate 35- which is associated with thechute section 18, and upon release lo'fthe later mechanism including the plate 35 into clamping relation with the section 18 by swinging the depending lever 50 counterclockwise as viewed .in Fig. 2, the plate 63 is concurrently released for. movement by. the springs 61 into clamping relation with the respective serrated plates 66. h means by which the two clamping mechanisms, on opposed sides of the chute are concurrently cocked or retracted upon counterclockwise operation of'the hand leve r4 0 (as viewed in Fig. 2) and are simultaneously released for movement by spring action, each into clampingposition, as shown in Fig. 5, by movement of the lever 50 counterclockwise from the full line to the dotted line, position of Fig. 3", will now be described.

As viewed in Fig. 12, the right'hand end portion .of the shaft 32 is threaded and inwardly of the hand lever 40 engage a conical element 73 secured to= the shaft- '32, as

shown in Fig. 12. By rotating the hand wheel 67-in a direction to cause it to move to the left on the shaft 32,- as shown in Fig. 12,- it will force the conical bore 72 of the ratchet-drum element 69 into engagement withthe cone 73 whereby the element is constrained to rotate'with the shaft. Rotating the hand wheel in the opposite direc tion will free the ratchet-drum element from locking engagement with the cone whereby it may be rotated in either direction to pay-out some of the surplus cable wound therearound or to take-in slack as-required.

As shown in Fig. 9, the cable 70 extends from the drum 69 over a pulley 74and is attached at the other end, at 75, to a drum 76 secured to theshaft 56; When the cable has been made suitably taut by adjusting the drum 69 as above described, it will be seen that manual operation of the hand lever 40 to swingtheclamp plate 35 to the non-clamping position shown in Fig. 9 will rotate the shaft 32 and also the drum 69 and ratchet element 49 counterclockwise as viewed in said figure and by means of the taut cable will rotate the drum 76 and the shaft 56 clockwise and so eifectthe movement of' the clamp plate 63 also to the non-clamping position.' The pawl 47 will 'then'automatically lock these two clamping means in retractedposition. Upon movement of the trip lever to swing the pawl 47 out ofengagement with the ratchet 49, the springs 43, 43 and 61, 61 will swing the respective clamp plates into clamping position for engaging opposed portions of the margin of a bag placed about the depending wall portions of the chute.

Reference was made above to the use of filler plates 22 in enlarging the circumference of the chute where bags of greater circumference than the chute are to be filled. To convert a chute, such'as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to a predetermined greater circumference, appropriate. filler plates 22 are inserted between the chute sections 18 and 19. To effect separation of the chute sections it is necessary to remove the four thumb screws 21 of section 19 from engagement with the beams 13 to enable that section to be slid along the beams 13 .in a direction away from chute section 18 to enable the filler plates 22 to be inserted as above described. Before the sec.- tion 19 can be so slid it is necessary to release the tension in the cable 70 which can be effected by turning the hand wheel 67 in a direction to back it out of engagement with the ratchet 49 to releasethe frictional engagement of the drum 69 upon the cone 73. When. such has been accomplished and the set screws 21 are released from engagement with the beams 13, the chute section 19 can he slid away from section 18 and the filler plates 22 placed in position. The section 19. is then slid into engagement with the two plates 22, 'as shown in Fig. 4. The set screws 21 are then placed through the slots in the extension 59 and tightly screwed into apertures in the beams 13. The cable 70 may then be rendered suitably taut by turning the drum 69 in the cable take-up direction upon the shaft and thereupon turning the threaded hand wheel 67 on the shaft to press and lock the drum into frictional engagement with the cone 73.

In order to insure the seating of the plates 35, 63 and the pads thereon in proper bag clamping relation against the serrated plates 39 and 66 of the chute sections 18 and 19, respectively, there is provided for each plate a member which controls the angular disposition of the plate as it approaches clamping position against the respective serrated plates when the leg operable release member 50 is tripped. The anglecontrol members of thc plates aresimilar and the corresponding parts are given similar reference characters.

The angle control members are designated by reference character 77 shown in Fig. 7 and each is mounted for free rocking movement upon one of the pivot rods 34 and .64 to which the respective plates 35 and 63 are mounted respectively. Viewing Fig. 7, member 77 which controls; the angular position ,of plate 35 is shown and a description thereof and its functioning may be taken a a description of the other member 77 also.

The member 77, as shown in Fig. 7, has a transverse borethrough which the pivot rod 34 passes. The member 77 is located intermediate the-ends of the plate 35 and isconstrained in that position by sections of tubes 78 on the rods 34 and 64 at each side of the member 77 as shown in Fig. 1. The member 77 is provided at the upper end with aroller 79 which can roll vertically on the outer surface of chute section 18. The lower shorter arm of the member 77 is provided with an adjusting screw 80, the inner end of which isadapted to act as a limit or stop against which the lower portion of the plate 35 will abut when the plate is in non-clamp position as shown in Fig. 7. The stop screw thus acts to limit the clockwise tilting of the plate 35 upon the rod 34 when the plate is in the non-clamping position as shown in Fig. 7 and as the arms 33 are swung clockwise from the position shown in saidfigure by springs 43 following release of the rachet 49, further clockwise tilting of the plate 35 upon the rod 34 is restrained. The result of such control of the tilting movement of the plate 35 is that the plate or the pads 37 thereon seat fiat against the serrated plates 39 notwithstanding the quick seating action induced by the springs 43 when the pawl 47 is released by actuation of the trip lever 50.

As viewed, for example in Fig. 5, when the plates 35 and 63 and the pads thereon are in bag clamping position, the longitudinal axis of arms 33 and 62' of the concurrently acting clamping mechanisms on opposed sides of the chute have not reached a truely horizontal position and hence are capable of exerting additional clamping pressure against the bag margin upon any downward movement of the plates 35 and 63, as by the increasing load in the bags during filling.

Inthe operation of the device when it is desired to hold a relatively small bag in pendant relationship for filling the bag, the chute sections 18 and 19 are employed in abutting relationship as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If, however, a relatively large bag is to be held for filling, two filler plates 22 are employed between the chute sections 18 and 19. The filler sections 22 are inserted between the chute sections 18 and 19 by rotating the handwheel 67 outwardly to thereby release the drum 69 from frictional engagement with the cone 72, as shown in Fig. 12. The tension on the cable 70 may be released, before or after the release of drum 69, by rotating the lever 50, as shown in Fig. 9, counterclockwise to release the pawl 47 from the ratchet 49 so that the drum 69 may then be free to rotate and release the tension of the cable 70. The set screws 21 are then removed from the apertures in the beam 13 and the chute section 19 can be slid on the beams 13 away from the chute section 18. A filler plate 22' is placed on each of the supporting beams 13 between the chute section 18 and chute section 19', with the supporting flanges 26 of these filler plates resting on the upper surface of the beam 13. The filler plates 22 are then slid into abutting relationship with the chute section 18 so that the flanges 25 on the filler plates 22 overlap the convergent wall portions 23 and the lower vertical flange portions 24 of the chute section 18. The chute section 19 is then slid on the beam 13 toward the chute section 18- until the flanges 25 on the filler plates 22 are in similar overlapping relationship with the convergent 'wall portions '23 and the lower vertical flange portions 24 of the chute section 19. The four set or thumb screws g; are

then inserted through the four slots in the chute section 19 and tightly screwed into threaded apertures in the two beams 13 so that the chute section 19 will be securely mounted on the two beams 13. The drum 69 can then be manually rotated so that the cable 79 is sub: stantially taut whereupon the hand wheel 67 is rotated inwardly so that the drum 69 will frictionally engage the cone 72 for rotation with the shaft 32.

When the device is'ready for use with a relatively small bag as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,

or with a relatively large bag as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 a of the drawings, the handle 40 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, thus rotating shaft 32 and clamp arms 33 counterclockwise.- This movement will bring the clamping plate'35 to a retracted or non-gripping position. When the operator removes his hand from handle 40, this retracted or nongripping position will be maintained due to the auto matic locking of the ratchet 49 by the pawl 47. As the clamping plate 35 and the associated pad'37 are being" rotated into a retracted position, the clamping plate 63 and its associated pads 65 will also be rotated to a re tracted position. This is done bythe motion of the shaft 32 being transmitted through drum 69, cable 70' which issecured thereto, which in turn imparts a' counter-rotation to a drum 76 on the shaft 56. The counter-rotation of the shaft 56 is imparted to the arms 62 so as} to retract the clamping plate 63 and the associated pad 65 while the clamping plate 35 and its as'sociatedpad 37 are also being retracted.

Hence, after handle 40 has been rotated in a counter; clockwise direction, both the clamping means on either side of the chute 17 will be held in a retracted position by the pawl 47 and the ratchet 49. A bag can then be raised upwardly by the operator so that the upper edges thereof are positioned between the pads 37 and the serrated plate 39 on one side, and between the pads 65 and the serrated plate 66 on' the other side, as viewed in Fig. 2 of the drawing. When this position of the bag has been reached, the operator can then conveniently rotate the" lever 50 counterclockwise by contacting the" lever with his knee or some other part of his body. When the lever 50 rotates counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 9 of the drawing, the stud 52 located on the U-shaped bracket 51" will contact the lower concave portion of the pawl 47 and rotate it out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 49. When this action occurs the two springs 43 will force the pads 37 downwardly so as to clamp one side of the bag between the serrated plate 39 and the pads 37. Simultaneously the two springs 61 will force the pad 65 downwardly and inwardly so as to clamp the other side of the bag between the serrated plate 66 and the pad 65. Due to the strength of the springs 43 and 61 this clamping action will occur instantaneously.

As the pads 37 and 65 are being forced downwardly into clamping position, the control members 77 Willi guide the ciarnping plates 35 and 63 so that the pads 37 and 65 will approach the serrated plates 24 and 66 in substantial parallel relationship. This will result in a clamping action that is highly efficient and that is less apt to tear or injure the bag.

When the two clamping means are holding the bag as shown in Fig. 3, the arms 33 and 62 are tilted somewhat upwardly so that as the bag is being filled and the'efiec'tive' weight of the bag is increasing, a gripping action of the clamping means will increase therewith. I

When the bag is filled with the desired amount of material or grain it can be released merely by rotating the handle 40 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 3 so that the pawl 47 and the ratchet 49 will once again maintain th'e gripping pads 37 and 65 in retracted position. I I

While I have shown and described in detail a bag holder which embodies the present improvements, changes of the parts as shown and described may be resorted" to within the spirit of the invention defined by the followinglclaims.

I claim: 1. A bag holder for holding a bag in open relationfor filling comprising a chute for directing filling material into a bag, means supporting the chute at an elevation 'wherea by a bag depending from the chute is free of the floor, said chute having a lower depending flange about which the marginal portion of the open end of a bag can be telescoped, a clamp plate at each of the opposed sides of the chute for clamping opposed marginal portions of the bag to the flange, a rock shaft on each side of the chute pro-.

vided with arms supporting the respective clamp plate for movement to and from clamping relation with opposed portions of the flange, spring means for each shaft for v rocking the same in a direction for thrusting the supported clamp plate into clamping relation with the flange, a hand operable lever on one of said shafts for rocking the shaft against the action of the respective spring rneans for retracting the plate supported by the arms thereof out of clamping relation with the flange, a ratchet mounted on said one of said shafts, a pawl engaging said ratchet for retaining said handle bearing shaft in a plate retracting 1 position, a leg operable lever for retracting the pawl from latching position to enable said handle bearing shaft to thrust the plate thereof into clamping. relation with said N flange portion, one of said chute sections being adjustable horizontally of said beams into contact with'the other section whereby the respective flange portions cooperate to provide a depending flange for receiving the open end of a bag of minimum transverse dimensions usable with said holder, said adjustable chute section being adjustable along said beams away from said other chute section to enlarge the circumference of the depending flange, a

.pair of chute elements insertable in the spaces formedby the separated chute sections and cooperating therewith to define 2 depending flange of a rectangular shape for re-' ceiving thereabout the open end of a bag of greater transverse dimensions, a movable clamp plate for each chute section, springs for moving each plate into clamping relation with the respective depending flange portions of a chute section for cooperation in clamping to the depending flange the marginal portion of the open end of a bag telescoped over said flange, a hand operable lever for retracting one of said plates to bag releasing relation against the action of the respective springs, latch means for retaining the retracted clamp plate in. retracted position, mechanism including a cable for translating retractingmovement applied by the handle to said other clamp plate for eifecting concurrent release of the plates from clamping relation.

References fited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,410 Blake Jan. 29, 1895 1,039,121 Haeske et a1 Sept. 24, 1912 1,199,001 Fellows Sept. 19, 1916 2,332,002 Neuman Oct. 19, 1943 Anderson 1 2,561,306 July 17, 1951 

